In the 37th episode, we're tackling the skills that could make us relevant and indispensable to future employers. In this episode, we present the Tier List of skills for the future job market. As the landscape rapidly evolves with spread of technologies such as AI, we observe the uncertainty surrounding future labor markets. Therefore staying ahead of all those changes requires a strategic approach to skill development from young people, workers and learners. 

Our guest speakers are Francesca Rosso and Romain Boitard, experts from the European Training Foundation.  Together with them we're constructing a tier list of essential skills vital for future employability. From analytical thinking to languages, each skill holds significance in the evolving job landscape. Throughout the episode, we explore what these skills entail, where to learn them, and how to best equip ourselves for the future.

Host: Maria Lvova Zolotarevskaya, ETF

In the 36th episode, we dive into the revolutionary role of artificial intelligence on education. With our expert speakers, Serena Sacks-Mandel, Chief Technology Officer for Education at Microsoft, and Pilvi Torsti, Director of the European Training Foundation, we share insights on AI biases, regulation challenges, and the changing role of teachers in the AI era. We discuss the delicate balance between embracing AI innovation and implementing responsible regulations to ensure its ethical use.

Discover how educational institutions, like New York City public schools, have moved from complete ban of ChatGPT in the school environment to harnessing the power of AI in the classroom.

The conversation touches on the global implications of AI regulation, the digital divide, and the critical role educators play in preparing students for the future.

Host: Maria Lvova Zolotarevskaya

In the latest episode of the Skills Factory podcast, we embark on a journey where technology meets education. Featuring guests speakers, Lisa Cowey, an expert from UK, and Jan Peter Ganter de Otero, a human capital development expert from ETF, the thirty-fifth episode explores the dynamic intersection of technology and vocational education.

No vaccines, no new technologies: How the world around us would look like without technology transfer and without a bridge between education and industry?

ChatGPT also is taking part in this episode posing a thought-provoking question to the speakers about the readiness of the ultra-traditional world of vocational education for a technological revolution.

Host: Maria Lvova Zolotarevskaya, ETF

More than a quarter of women in almost half of the EU’s neighbouring countries are neither in education, employment, nor training (NEET), with some countries reaching up to 40%. What is the state of gender inclusion and women's entrepreneurship? What is the link between women and growth?

Listen to our new podcast episode “Reducing the gender gap: how far did we get?” with Anna Dorangricchia, Programme Manager Gender equality, Union for the Mediterranean!

Host: Daria Santucci

In this Skills Factory podcast, student in engineering Elimon Dingwiza shares his unique educational journey, leading us to question the relevance of formal education for today’s young people.

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Elimon attended several schools before dropping out in an attempt to satisfy his thirst for knowledge beyond standard curricula. He excelled in self-guided learning, highlighting a gap between education systems and students’ potential. He eventually enrolled in Politecnico di Torino to gain new opportunities to develop his skills.

The conversation emphasises the importance of curiosity, self-discovery, and the pursuit of one’s passions. It offers an empowering message to young people, encouraging them to explore their own interests and to break through the boundaries of current education systems.

Host: Maria Lvova Zolotarevskaya

In this episode we discuss the impact of generative artificial intelligence on education system overall and on teachers in particular.

We specifically discuss following question:

How fare will the job of a teacher change in the future?

What are the risks and opportunities of AI tools in education? 

How can we ensure that the access to generative Artificial Intelligence tools is equally available for people living in developing countries?

Do policy makers really understand the urgency of adapting education systems to the rapid changes brought by AI?

Don't miss this though provoking conversation with Guy Levi, expert in innovative pedagogies from Israel, and Fabio Nascimbeni from European Training Foundation.

Host: Maria Lvova Zolotarevskaya, ETF

In this episode, the discussion revolves around the artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on the labour market and education. We delve into various aspects, including societal fears towards AI in different countries, the historical context of automation in Japan, the potential for AI to address labor shortages, and the future of unpaid household work. 

The conversation also explores the individual perspective, offering advice on employability in the age of AI-dominated recruitment processes. 

Don't miss this insightful conversation with Vili Lehdonvirta from Oxford University and the author of the book “Cloud Empires: How digital platforms are overtaking the state and how we can regain control” and Iwona Ganko from European Training Foundation.

Host: Maria Lvova Zolotarevskaya, ETF

In the 30th episode of the Skills Factory podcast, titled “Platform work: digital futures” we discuss the growing influence of digital platforms (e.g. Uber, Airbnb, Deliveroo) in the labor market and the implications for individuals, businesses, and society.

The guest speakers are Vili Lehdonvirta from Oxford University and the author of the book “Cloud Empires: How digital platforms are overtaking the state and how we can regain control” and Iwona Ganko from European Training Foundation.

We explore the impact of digital platforms on work and skills, with a focus on the expansion of remote work, the challenges and benefits of platform-based employment, the role of gender and the risks for economic inequality of platform workers. 

The episode provides insights into the impact of digital platforms for the nature of work and emphasises the need for proactive measures to address the concerning dynamics of the labor market.

Host: Maria Lvova Zolotarevskaya

#EuropeanYearofSkills #Skills4Change

In this 29th episode of the Skills Factory podcast series, we deep-dive into skills development initiatives run by the EU in its neighbouring countries. While the European Year of Skills is moving at full speed, it is essential to stop and clarify how skills are contributing to creating a better planet.

What is Europe doing to make sure that investments in education are worth it, and that no one is left behind? Are initiatives promoting mobility to the benefit of all, sending countries included? To know more about this, and unpack the complexities of our fast-changing world, join this podcast conversation with Mathieu Bousquet, Acting Director at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations.

This podcast episode will also tackle myths about initiatives and investments: is it true or false that the EU is investing more in non-EU countries? Are funds to Ukraine taken from funds allocated to other regions? Is it true that education can help shaping a country’s policies? So if you’re curious, start listening now and don’t stop until the very end!

Host: Daria Santucci

#Skills4Change #EuropeanYearOfSkills

In this 28th episode of the Skills Factory podcast series, we delve into the ever-changing world of work. As new professions are emerging at a rapid pace, it is crucial to consider the skills that will be needed to navigate our evolving landscape.

Do we adequately prepare today’s young people for the jobs in the coming decades? To answer this question, join our conversation with ETF expert Francesca Rosso who talks about the skills required to thrive in a new world and the way education and training should adapt to equip individuals with the skills of the future.

Although we do not possess a crystal ball, we examine what we currently know about the jobs of the future and how labour markets have been shaped by the Covid outbreak, the economic crisis and overall instability. And for our listeners in their early twenties who may be wondering how to secure a job for themselves in an ever-changing landscape, we share some key recommendations and essential steps to take.

Host: Maria Lvova Zolotarevskaya

#Skills4Change #EuropeanYearOfSkills